Tree-sprayer.



1. WILCOX.l

TREE SPRAYER.

APPLICATIUN FILED JULY 6.1915- Patented Jan. 8,1918.

@n vente@ @gta nnrrnp sra'rns Parana ernten.

JAY WILCOX, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

TREE-SPRAYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application led July 6, 1915. Serial No. 38,356.

To ali'whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J AY `W1Lcox, a citizen of the United States7 residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tree-Sprayers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the governing elements in a fruit spraying 10,

machine, and its object is to provide a means whereby the spraying pumps may be made inoperative as soon as an excess of pressure is created in the Iconductor pipes by the direct action of said pumps automatically cutting oit the How of the spraying solution before it reaches the pumps, thus dispensing with the ordinary overflow and waste beyond the pumps.

I attain thisr object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the diaphragm chamber and its several connections for carrying out the object of this invention: Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same: Fig. 3 is a top plan of the same'showing the relative positions of its several elements: Fig. 4 is a .longitudinal section of a part of the pipes and valves in the system, upon a large scale toA show the operation of my mechanism for cutting off the iiow ofA spraying solution before vit lreaches the pump.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents the supply pipe through which the lspraying solution is drawn from the tank 21, indicated in Fig. 1. 3, 3 represent check valves between theA pumps 4 4 and the intake pipe 1, and 3', 3 represent check valves between the pumps 4, 4 and the pipe 13 that conveys the solution into the chamber 5. as indicated at 13, which chamber is provided with a iexible diaphragm 5', Varranged to actuate the rod G in the usual manner. To carry out the objects of my in-i vention I secure a yoke 7 to the upper end of the rod 6, which is provided with arms that extend downward 'and are made to engage the rods 10, as indicated at 8, 8 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I place a nut, 11, at the upper end of each of the rods 10 and a spiral spring 9 between each of thesenuts and the corresponding end 8 of the yoke 7 the nuts 11 being designed to enabley me to adjust the pressure of both the springs 9, 9 to exactly the same tension. The lower ends of the rods 10, 10 are securely packed upon the flexible packing 19 by means of properly formed and applied nuts 12. This flexible packing is made of rubber, or any other firm, reliable material that will deflect sufficiently to allow the rods to raise and lower with the yoke 7 and the rod o' as they are affected by varying pressure in the chamber 5. The rods 10 pass below the flexible packing 19 and are pivotally connected with the levers 17, as at 15. One end of' the levers.

17 is pivotally secured in the pipe 20 to one side of the rods 10, and the other ends are free to raise and lower under the valve 18, as indicated in Fig. 4. Normally the lever 17 is in'position to allow the valve ball 18 to seat perfectly on its seat 18 so no solution that has been drawn up past the valve 18 by the pumps, can flow or be forced back past the valve, but when overpressure is forced'into the chamber 5 the diaphragm will be forced upward, in the usual-manner and will carry the voke 7 u ward, as indicated by its dotted 'lines 1n Fig. 1, which will raise the rods 10, 1() causing the flexible packing to bend upward as indicated by its dotted lines in Fig. 4, so the lever 17 will be Raised upward and will carry the valve 18 upwardl with it upon the up-stroke of the pump` and will hold the valve open so any solution that is drawn from the tan-k by the pumps upon their upward strokes will be forced' back past the valve on the downward strokes of the pumps and prevent any solution from passing through the pumps until the pressure has been reduced to the desired degree when the diaphragm. ceasing to act upon the4 rod 6, will allow the lever 17 to drop dowil to normal positionand the pumps to operate in theusual manner until thepres'sure hasf through the pipe 14 to thevproper air chambers and spraying nozzles in the usual manner; the air chambers 'and spraying nozzle have not been shown inthe drawings :for the reason that neither of' them enter, in any Patenten Jan. s, 191s). l

and thev pipe 13 into the chamber 5 and` way, into the invention herein disclosed and the intake pipe l and the check valves '18 in.

the chambers 3, hence the moment excessive pressure 1s produced in the chamber 5 and the pump piston, on the upward stroke,4

raises the valve 18 for the passage of the spraying solution the lever 1T, pivoted at 16 and `15, will be so actuated by the diaphragm that the end immediately under the valve 18 will hold the valve passage at 18 open i:'or the free passage of the solution in either direction until the pressure in the chamber 5 is reduced to the idesired degree.

As the diaphragm used 1n this connection is exactly similar to all diaphragm used in this class of sprayers, and its action isperfeetlyl understood by those versed in this par ticular art, l have not deemed itvnecessary to enter particularly into a description ot this feature, especially as it terms no part of my invention. For the same reason l have re- -trained from entering into a detailed description of the pumps or any other feature that, though essential to the successful working of the system as a whole, are not included in my present invention.

The edge of the iexible packing 19 must.

be so firmly secured between the ring 19 and the shoulder on the barrel 2 as to form a perfectly safe, air and water tight joint, and the center connection with the rod 10 must be of the same nature and the packing` must be made of some flexible material that will not be affected by the action of the spraying solution. The reason l prefer this form olfv packing is that itsmovements. will be perfectly irce thus rendering the adjustment of the rod l0 free and easy, while with an ordinary packing box the friction on the rod, necessary to insure a water tight joint would be so great as to greatly hamper the movement of the rod, and, 1n fact, to render it almost impossible to properly operate the.

lever for actuating the valve 18, as desired.

It will be understood that the desired action,inthis instance, is brought about by tachments. y

'Lasarte the direct action of the spraying pumps in the conveyer pipes without the use of addin ments, and without the entrance of air into any part of the conductor pipes or their at- `What I claim as new, and desire to Secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

restingagainst the under surface ot'v the Takte, and a rod suspended trom the dia-- phragm and connecting the center of the diaphragm with the 'lever between its pivotal connection and the check valve to raise and lower said valve by direct pressure from the spraying pumps inside of ythe conductor pipe.

2. ln combination with the intake pipe, pumps, conductor pipe, check valves and diaphragm of a tree spraying system, levers. pivotally connected at one end to the inside of the conductor pipes with the free ends of the levers in position to actuate the check valves, a rod connected with the diaphragm and carrying a yoke outside of the conductor pipes, rods extending from the ends of the yoke, passed through proper bearings in the conductor pipes and connected with the le vers to unseat the valves by the direct pressure of the pumps inside of the conductor pipes.

3. ln combination. with the intake pipes, check valves, conductor pipes` force pumps and diaphragm of a tree sprinkler system, levers pivotally mounted at one end in the conductor pipes, the free ends of the levers in contact with. the check valves, ,a rod con nected with the diaphragm and carrying a yoke outside of the conductor pipes, adjustablerods connected with the yoke, passing into the conductor pipes andA connected with the levers to unseat the cheek. valves by the direct pressure inside of the conductor pipes, and flexible packing connected therewith.

Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, July e, i915.

JAY WlILCOX.

ien,y 

